"Scheme $6,000"
Frequently Asked Questions
 
1.
 What is “Scheme $6,000”? Who are eligible for payment under the Scheme?  
 
   
 
2.
 When will registration and payment start?  
 
   
 
3.
 What is the batching arrangement for registration?  
 
   
 
4.
 How can one register and receive payment?  
 
   
 
5.
 How can persons who do not have a local Hong Kong dollar bank account in their sole name register and receive the payment?  
 
   
 
6.
 Will “Scheme $6,000” benefit those who have attained the Hong Kong permanent resident status but are not holding a HKPIC?  
 
   
 
7.
 What is a valid HKPIC? Will holders of an old identity card (i.e. not smart identity card) be required to replace their old card with a smart identity card before they are eligible for the payment?  
 
   
 
8.
 How may eligible persons who have settled in the Mainland or emigrated collect the payment?  
 
   
 
9.
 How may persons who are physically immobile or mentally incapacitated (e.g. those who are in coma or in impaired mental state) receive the payment?  
     
     
     
     
     
 
1.
 What is “Scheme $6,000”? Who are eligible for payment under the Scheme?  
     
 

Under “Scheme $6,000”, a sum of $6,000 will be given to each holder of a valid Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card (HKPIC) aged 18 or above. The eligibility date for “Scheme $6,000” is 31 March 2012. A person is eligible for the Scheme if he/she meets the eligibility criteria on the eligibility date.

  
       
   
       
 
2.
 When will registration and payment start?  
     
 

Allowing about seven weeks for pre-launch preparations upon obtaining funding approval from the Legislative Council (LegCo) on 8 July 2011, “Scheme $6,000” will commence on 28 August 2011.

Persons who already meet the eligibility criteria on the commencement date of the Scheme (i.e. 28 August 2011) may register from that date to 31 March 2012 (both dates inclusive) for $6,000 under the Scheme by batches according to their year of birth. We will start making payments around 10 weeks after the commencement of the Scheme (i.e. from early November 2011). Persons who meet the eligibility criteria on the commencement date of the Scheme but choose to register between 1 April 2012 and 31 December 2012 (both dates inclusive) may receive $6,000 plus a bonus of $200. Payment will be made from early May 2012.

Persons who do not meet the eligibility criteria on the commencement date of the Scheme (i.e. 28 August 2011) but will do so on 31 March 2012 may submit registration forms on or before 31 December 2012. Their registration forms will be processed after 31 March 2012. Payment of $6,000 will be made to such eligible persons from early May 2012.

  
       
   
       
 
3.
 What is the batching arrangement for registration?  
     
 

To ensure registration in an orderly manner, we will adopt a batching arrangement during the first 10 weeks upon the commencement of the Scheme. Persons who meet the eligibility criteria on the commencement date of the Scheme (i.e. 28 August 2011) can register in five batches according to their year of birth. The registration period for each batch is two weeks. Details of the batching arrangement are as follows:

Batch
Year of Birth (Age)
Registration Period
1
1946 or before (aged 65 or above)
From 28 August 2011
2
1947-1956 (aged 55 to 64)
From 11 September 2011
3
1957-1966 (aged 45 to 54)
From 25 September 2011
4
1967-1981 (aged 30 to 44)
From 9 October 2011
5
1982-1993 (aged 18 to 29)
From 23 October 2011

Registration by batches will close on 5 November 2011. Eligible persons who have not registered during the period between 28 August 2011 and 5 November 2011, regardless of their year of birth, may register for the Scheme on or before 31 December 2012.

  
       
   
       
 
4.
 How can one register and receive payment?  
     
 

Eligible persons who have a local Hong Kong dollar bank account in their sole name may register through banks and receive payment through the specified bank account.

Eligible persons do not need to register in person at a bank counter. After filling in the registration form (by providing information including name, HKPIC number, contact telephone number, number of bank account for receiving payment and name of the bank) and signing it, they may submit the form in the following ways:

(i)
through drop-boxes placed at any local branch (except those branches inside MTR stations) of the bank selected (only available during the period of registration by batches, i.e. from 28 August 2011 to 5 November 2011);
 
(ii)
 mail the form to G.P.O. Box No. 186000, Hong Kong General Post Office; or
 
(iii)
 submit the form via e-banking, subject to individual banks' readiness.
   
Registrants confirmed to have met the eligibility criteria will receive the payment directly through the specified bank account.
  
       
   
       
 
5.
  
     
 

Eligible persons who do not have a local Hong Kong dollar bank account in their sole name may register and receive the payment through the Hongkong Post.

Eligible persons do not need to register in person at a post office counter. After filling in the registration form (by providing information including name, HKPIC number, contact telephone number, correspondence address and the post office selected for cheque collection) and signing it, they may submit the form in the following ways:

(i)

 through drop-boxes placed at any post office (except mobile post offices) (only available during the period of registration by batches, i.e. from 28 August 2011 to 5 November 2011); or
 

(ii)

 mail the form to G.P.O. Box No. 186000, Hong Kong General Post Office.

Registrants confirmed to have met the eligibility criteria will be notified by post to collect cheque at the designated post office. The cheque can be encashed at any local branch of the Standard Chartered Bank. Registrants must collect and encash the cheque in person, and must show their identity card for verification of identity.

  
       
     
       
 
6.
  
       
   

Persons who fulfil the following criteria on the eligibility date (i.e. 31 March 2012) are eligible for and may register under “Scheme $6,000”:

(a)

 aged 18 or above; and
     

(b)
(i)
 are eligible for attaining the Hong Kong permanent resident status;
     
 
(ii)
have submitted applications for Verification of Eligibility for Permanent Identity Card (VEPIC) to the Immigration Department; and
     
 
(iii)
upon verification of their VEPIC applications by the Immigration Department, have submitted applications for HKPIC and have their HKPIC applications approved on or before 31 December 2012.
 
       
     
       
 
7.
  
       
   

A valid HKPIC refers to a smart HKPIC issued on or after 23 June 2003. Under the Registration of Persons (Invalidation of Identity Cards) Order 2008 (Chapter 177I), all identity cards issued before that date were declared invalid.

Holders of identity cards issued before 23 June 2003 (i.e. old identity cards) meet the eligibility criteria and may register under “Scheme $6,000”, if they apply for the replacement of their identity cards at any Registration of Persons Offices on or before the eligibility date (i.e. 31 March 2012), and have their applications for smart HKPIC approved on or before that date.

  
       
     
       
 
8.
 How may eligible persons who have settled in the Mainland or emigrated collect the payment?  
       
   

Like any other Hong Kong citizens, eligible persons away from Hong Kong, may choose the way that best suits their individual circumstances for registration and receiving payment.

  
       
     
       
 
9.
  
       
   

Persons who are physically immobile may register and receive payment through banks in the same way as other eligible persons if they already have a local Hong Kong dollar bank account in their sole name.

The Government will make special arrangements for persons without a local Hong Kong dollar bank account in their sole name and unable to collect cheque in person at a post office, or those who are unfit to go through the registration process due to their physical and/or mental conditions. We will render all possible assistance to these persons in registering and receiving payment, while ensuring protection of privacy as well as prevention of abuse or fraud. Detailed arrangements will be announced in due course.